Snails turning white?

This is a discussion on Snails turning white? within the Invertebrates forums, part of the Freshwater and Tropical Fish category; -->
Hmm, I've been looking all over for an answer to this question. Maybe someone here can help me. I have Malaysian Trumpet Snails in ...

Hmm, I've been looking all over for an answer to this question. Maybe someone here can help me. I have Malaysian Trumpet Snails in my ten-gallon tank (they stowed away on some plants YEARS ago and I haven't been able to get rid of them, so I stopped trying). Recently, in the last month or so, it appears that their shells have been turning white from the tip forward. They've also been burrowing less, lying around on the surface of the substrate during the day. I don't particularly love or hate the snails, but I don't like the way it looks. It looks like they're dying, and it's just plain depressing. At night though, they're still crawling all over the glass, so maybe they're okay. It's hard to tell.

I haven't really changed anything in the tank, except that around the same time, my Amazon Sword started dying, just the outside leaves. They turned brown and transparent from the base up and I cut them off, and the new leaves appear fine. Also, more algae has started growing on the leaves of the plants. I don't know if this is related or not.

Oh, and I just tested the water - ammonia and nitrites are 0, and the pH is about 6.6.

Anyone have any ideas as to what's going on here? I'd really appreciate it.

Well their shell looks like it is eroding...definately test for copper. Their shell is calcium and will deteriorate with acids and you said you haven't added anything. Until you test for that or figure out what may be in your water..you should supply them with a lot of calcium so maybe they can make it through. Put a cuttlebone in the tank and some spinach so they can get the calcium they need.

The only thing is their shells seem to deteriorate so fast and they take forever to thicken up again.

Okay, I'll see if I can get a test kit for copper... Though I don't know how copper would get into my tank, I haven't put anything new in there and nothing is metallic. I can definitely sink some spinach in the tank tonight if that will help, and I'll look for a cuttlebone. I feel bad that their shells are deteriorating, poor snails.

Some homes have copper water piping that will leach into the drinking water. If you can asap I would buy some RO water from a watermill or go to a local store (You will have to add minerals to this).

It could also be your pH. It is on the low side and this makes the water acidic which will eat at their shell. You can buy Seachem Liquid calcium. The cuttlebone will eventually add calcium to the water but will take longer...the snails will munch on it though.

Hmm, I've been looking all over for an answer to this question. Maybe someone here can help me. I have Malaysian Trumpet Snails in my ten-gallon tank (they stowed away on some plants YEARS ago and I haven't been able to get rid of them, so I stopped trying). Recently, in the last month or so, it appears that their shells have been turning white from the tip forward. They've also been burrowing less, lying around on the surface of the substrate during the day. I don't particularly love or hate the snails, but I don't like the way it looks. It looks like they're dying, and it's just plain depressing. At night though, they're still crawling all over the glass, so maybe they're okay. It's hard to tell.

I haven't really changed anything in the tank, except that around the same time, my Amazon Sword started dying, just the outside leaves. They turned brown and transparent from the base up and I cut them off, and the new leaves appear fine. Also, more algae has started growing on the leaves of the plants. I don't know if this is related or not.

Oh, and I just tested the water - ammonia and nitrites are 0, and the pH is about 6.6.

Anyone have any ideas as to what's going on here? I'd really appreciate it.

The snails need calcium which helps with shell development. In hard alkaline water they can draw this mineral from the water. In soft acidic water such as you have,perhaps some foods for crabs which are high in calcium could be offered .
Others have placed cuttlebone such as that placed in parakeet cages in the tank for a calcium source.
Or you could just leave things be and the snails will dwindle in numbers.

Look into your KH and GH. Like 1077 said, soft acidic water can contribute to this issue. You need to make sure your water hardness and pH are high enough to avoid shell erosion as well as feed them calcium enriched foods.